Category Archives: Christian Life

DEPTH OF MERCY!

Christian Life, ,

1. Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
me, the chief of sinners, spare?

2. I have long withstood His grace,
long provoked Him to His face;
would not hearken to His calls,
grieved Him by a thousand falls.

3. I my Master have denied;
I afresh have crucified,
oft profaned His hallowed name,
put Him to an open shame.

4. There for me the Savior stands,
shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps, but loves me still!

5. Now incline me to repent,
let me now my fall lament;
now my foul revolt deplore!
weep, believe, and sin no more.

(Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #205
Author: Charles Wesley)

How can we ever value the sacrifice Jesus made for us until we truly understand God’s mercy to us who are deeply stained with sin and rotten to the core?

What is mercy? Mercy is far more than a feeling of pity for us poor earthlings, who have gotten ourselves into a terrible dilemma because of our sinful hearts, and wicked behaviour. It is more than a passing “Shame! Poor thing!” and a handout, as at the sight of a homeless beggar, shivering and wrapped in rags, who has forfeited home and family because he messed up.

MERCY is first an attitude, then a decision, then an action.

Where does mercy begin? Mercy begins deep in the character of God. Despite our attitude of defiance and rebellion, despite the fruit of our unbelief that issues in every thought and action to defy and deny Him, and deliberately insults His holy name, He chooses not to pour out His wrath on us. He looks at our filthy hearts, smells the stench of our sinful behaviour, considers His righteous judgment… and then decides, “I can’t do this? I cannot burn them forever in hell!”

Consider His anguish at the persistent rebellion of Israel, and His chosen course of action.

This is the way God treated them…

Hosea 11:1-9 NLT
[1] “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. [2] But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. [3] I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. [4] I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him…”[5]

This is what they deservered for the way they treated Him…

“But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria. [6] War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates. They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans. [7] For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me…”

This is how He felt…

[8] “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. [9] No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.”

Out of this deep compassion, mercy flows.

Paul explored the plight of both Jews and Gentiles, Jews because they had God’s Covenant but refused to obey it, and Gentiles because they had the moral law in their conscience but defied it, and reversed good and evil.

We all deserve the severity of God’s judgment. Not even Jews who have His Law, are exempt. This is the Bible’s diagnosis of human behaviour.

Romans 3:9-18 NLT
[9] “Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. [10] As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. [11] No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. [12] All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” [13] “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” [14] “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” [15] “They rush to commit murder. [16] Destruction and misery always follow them. [17] They don’t know where to find peace.” [18] “They have no fear of God at all.”

How did God respond? What should God do?

Romans 11:28, 30-32 NLT
[28] “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. [29] For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
[30] Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. [31] Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. [32] For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.”

What an awesome God! He confined all people to judgment because all have sinned and fallen short of His holiness so that He can have mercy on everyone, whoever they are.

His daring plan to rescue every person who is under His judgment rested, not on human effort but on the willingness of His own divine family, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to participate.

The Word of God, His perfect partner in the Godhead, became the Son of God, His chosen and anointed Servant on earth, to do His will and to save His people from His judgment and sentence of death.

So, Jesus, the Son, was conceived by the Spirit in the womb of Mary, anointed by the Spirit to carry out His mission, died by the Spirit and rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He puts this plan into action in our hearts, when we believe in Jesus.

Luke 1:35 NLT
[35] “The angel replied (to Mary), “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

Matthew 3:16-17 NLT
[16] “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Hebrews 9:14 NLT
[14] “Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.”

Romans 1:4 NLT
[4]…” He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Holy Spirit, again the perfect partner in this Trinity, was appointed administrator to effect and apply this great rescue plan.

In this partnership of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, mercy overcame judgment. God’s judgment on sin is perfectly righteous. No one can defy God, insult His holiness, and spit in His face, as we humans have done… all of us… and get away with it!

Romans 3:23 NLT
[23]”For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Ephesians 2:4-7 NLT
[4] “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) [6] For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. [7] So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”

God went far beyond feeling sorry for us. He came down from heaven to become one of us. He felt our pain, our disgrace, our alienation from the Father and took it all upon Himself so that we, only if we receive His mercy by faith, never have to experience the end result of our sin.

Only when we feel, deep in our own souls, the horror of the plight we are in, and the terrible consequences of our rebellion against God, will we experience and value the mercy of God. He does not give us what we deserve, eternity in hell, but does give us what we do not deserve, a glorious future in heaven with Him.

Psalms 103:8-12 NLT
[8] “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. [11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

It’s this mercy, that saved us from hell and prepares us for heaven, that drives us to show mercy to others for all their lesser offenses against us.

Matthew 5:7 NIV
[7]”Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!

2. Praise him for his grace and favor
to his people in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!

3. Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!

4. Angels, help us to adore him;
you behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!

Author: Henry Francis Lyte
1793-1847
(hymnary.org)

WALKING ON THE RED CARPET OF GOD’S GRACE

Christian Life, ,

Romans 5:1-2 NIV
[1] “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

When I was much younger, I bumped into this Scripture and it began to take hold of me. We stand in grace! “Standing” implies that my feet are both firmly planted on something that will not move or shake. To stand in grace means that wherever I am, whatever I am doing, my feet, my life, are/is firm and secure on God’s grace.

I think that grace is also underfoot like the “red carpet” put out for royalty to walk on at an auspicious occasion. A red carpet signifies the honour expressed towards a person of status and position.

Just like royalty, God has rolled out the “red carpet” of grace and favour for everyone of His blood-bought children to walk on, every moment of every day. Grace is not an occasional provision in times of crisis or need. Grace is not a booster injection to energise us when we run out of steam.

Grace is the atmosphere of God, the environment of His throne room. Grace is the adornment of His dwelling, His red carpet of favour on which we “walk” with Him in faith and love, that exudes from His very being for all His sons and daughters.

Grace surrounds us with the shield of God’s favour.

Psalms 5:12 NIV
[12]” Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

The condition for God’s favour is righteousness…the righteousness the Lord Himself provides, to cover and remove the filth and stench of our own self-righteousness.

Isaiah 64:6 NIV
[6]”All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

God Himself intervened to change our status.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
[21] “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Squeaky clean and free from guilt and condemnation! Just as the first man Adam was, the man God fashioned in Eden to be like Him!

Like the tender care a mother gives to her newborn infant, the Father swaddles us in His grace, cuddling us to His heart and tenderly guarding us from harm. He provides everything we need to grow strong and robust in our faith in Him, even in those times in life when we need the grace of discipline to keep us safe and secure within the boundaries of His kingdom.

We can easily stray off the red carpet if and when we forget that we can do nothing of ourselves. How foolish we are when we forgo favour for self-effort, when we take the credit for what grace has done!
Anything we do or say that is not of the Holy Spirit in us dislodges us from grace, making us responsible and accountable to God for our words and deeds.

Grace cannot change the wrong we have done but grace forgives the repentant heart and restores us to our place on the red carpet. Grace even weaves our foolishness into something good.

So, in the awareness of this marvellous grace, let’s keep a firm footing on the red carpet. Lets’ keep revelling in the promise that we will share in the perfection of Jesus’ nature, His glory, only because of the grace that holds us strong onad firm on our journey. Let’s maintain the attitude that keeps grace firmly in place, always thankful and always praising God for the richness of His grace.

LIVING LOVED

Christian Life, ,

What a great question! Since the Bible assures us that we are deeply loved, how can we weave this truth into our daily experiences with their crises, disappointments, and challenges?

There is a principle in Scripture and in life…our decisions and actions are a process, that we function, first from our minds, through our thoughts, understanding, and belief, and eventually into experience.

So, Paul says, the transformation we experience as new creatures in Christ begins with exchanges that go on in our minds. We learn the truth and receive it in exchange for the wrong ideas we had. This is the essence of repentence.

The information we need that will move us from thinking, believing, and doing what affects us detrimentally, is truth. Truth is found in what God has revealed about Himself, us, and the world we live in.

John 17:17 NLT
[17] “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
[16] “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

Step number one, then, in the process of learning to live loved, is to replace whatever our opinion is about ourselves and God’s attitude towards us, with truth.

Romans 12:2 NLT
[2]”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”

The world has taught us to be suspicious of God, and the troubles and adversities we face or we see happening to others seem to confirm our suspicions that God is not be trusted.

Who is telling the truth? Is the world correct in its evaluation of God’s character? When we look at the evidence of what God has done for us through Jesus, we can only conclude that it’s the world that is lying, not God.

So, if it is true that God loves us absolutely, unconditionally, with a constant love, that same love as the love He has for Jesus (and Jesus assured us that this is true – John 17:25-26), then we can act on this truth.

Step two…how do we weave God’s love for us into our responses to our circumstances? Once we have accepted and believed the truth that God loves us, we must learn to change our awareness. We must discipline our minds to factor God’s love for us into every circumstance and situation, especially when we experience difficulties, hardships, disappointments, or loss of any kind.

Romans 8:31-39 is the passage to dwell on. As each situation arises, with a growing awareness of God’s love, we dwell on the truth that nothing can come in between us and God’s love for us.

This response, practised repeatedly through difficult experiences, slowly develops into a settled attitude of mind. We breathe the air of God’s love with every breath we take. We are not fazed by adversity because we believe that God’s love permits only what is beneficial for us, and works for our good in everything. God is sovereign. He supervises everything to work for our good.

Step three…we develop a new thought-habit. We attribute every situation, good or bad, to God’s love until we anchored in that truth. We are slowly learning to interpret and live in the confidence of God’s love in every situation. We are eventually resting and living loved.

GOD’S MASTERPLAN

Christian Life, ,

Unlike human plans, intricate and multi-faceted, based on the human wisdom of fallible people, open-ended and uncertain of ultimate success, God’s masterplan is guaranteed to work. Let’s examine what He has done.

Psalm 2 is a masterful presentation of God’s universal plan to restore everything, but He has opposition.

Psalms 2:1-3 NLT
[1] “Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? [2] The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. [3] “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

The nations, under the influence of evil spirit beings, led by the most powerful of them, rebelled against God’s instruction to rule in righteousness. Instead, they led the nations astray. Earthly rulers were determined to throw off God’s yoke, to take over the earth, and to establish their own rules. This was Adam’s choice gone universal.

God’s plan is to push the “reset button”, to restore the universe, and the earth in the universe, to its original perfection and purpose. How will He accomplish this?

Psalms 2:4-5 NLT
[4] “But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. [5] Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.”

God is not fazed by human opposition. He is first amused at their arrogant but pathetic efforts to throw off His authority. They rise up in rebellion, shake their fists at God, and make threatening noises, like kittens mewing at a storm.

Then, He is enraged. How dare puny humans, be they kings or any other authority figures, think they can out-manoeuvre God? Who do they think they are? Do they really believe they can overthrow His power and take over the universe?

Perhaps God should ask earthly kings the same questions He asked Job. “Where were you…? What part did you play in the creation of all earth’s wonders? Were you in on the planning of each intricately-fashioned plant and animal, and proclaimed into being by a spoken word…in six days! So, how do you think you can take over the running of the earth, let alone the universe, when you don’t even know how or when it began or how it works!”

Instead of being blabbermouths, this mighty God should stun them into silence and submission by His mighty power! But, no, they think they can outsmart Him, and He seems to be doing nothing!

God’s response is not what we expect. God’s plan is not an intricate strategy or a massive display of power. God’s plan is far more simple than that. God’s plan is a man.

Psalms 2:6-9 NLT
[6] For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

What! Is that all? How can a man defend God’s universe against a coalition of all the most powerful rulers on earth?

Wait. He is not just a man. He is “the man, Christ Jesus”. Who is this man, this king who will stand against all the powers and weapons on earth, and win?

This man is God come to earth in a human body…

Philippians 2:6-7 NLT
[6] “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

This man lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father. This man’s life qualified Him to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin. This man died in place of all sinners to reconcile us to God.

Philippians 2:7-8 NLT
[7]”…When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

The Father vindicated this man’s life and death by raising Him from the dead.

Romans 1:3-4 NLT
[3] “The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, [4] and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Father gave this man the greatest reward possible.

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9]” Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus claimed that authority and send His disciples out to tell the world who is in charge and to call all people to repentance and faith in Him.

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
[18] Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God’s plan in a nutshell….Jesus.

God, the Father, put Jesus, the Son, in authority over the entire creation, including galaxies of stars, and planets. That means that His rule is absolute.

Hebrews 1:1-3 NLT
[1] “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. [2] And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. [3] The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.”

“He sat down…” Sitting means resting, work complete, authority established, nothing more to do! God’s kingdom is a theocracy, not a democracy. He rules, not people. God settled that issue, once and forever.

So…

[7] “The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. [8] Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. [9] You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”

Since Jesus’ rule is established, forever, absolute, God warns the opposition to submit or perish. There is no alternative.

Psalms 2:10-12 NLT
[10] Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! [11] Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant…. “

There is a terrifying end to those who persist in their rebellion, the wrath of the Lamb.

Revelation 6:15-17 NLT
[15]”Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. [16] And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. [17] For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

God’s MASTERPLAN…the man, Christ Jesus the Lord.

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT
[11] Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. [12] His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. [13] He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. [14] The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. [15] From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. [16] On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”

His rule is absolute, His judgment final. All opposition will be permanently crushed.

And what of those who submit to His rule?

“But what joy for all who take refuge in him!”

Jesus doesn’t take sides. We do!

EXHUMED!

Christian Life, ,

Pardon this bizarre discussion, but it has exposed a VERY IMPORTANT TRUTH!

Recently, a friend was exposed to a terrifying situation, leaving her emotionally and spiritually shaken. Why, God? What was the purpose of this horrific experience? Despite the peace that steadied her in the moment, there were still unanswered questions?

On reflection, a startling revelation hit me. Let me explain.

I love forensics. I have been wired to enjoy unravelling situations to get to the bottom of the puzzle. Hence my interest in TV programmes that do just that….Forensic Investigations, Air Crash Investigations, Extreme Makeover, Home Edition…even maths at school…unravelling mysteries… these are the fascinating stories that I love to watch.

So, a situation like my friend endured, to me is a spiritual situation that needs unravelling.

How often, during a forensic investigation, the puzzle needs the deeper examination of a body to find the real cause of death. The body must be exhumed for further examination. In an air crash investigation, no stone is left unturned to find out not only what happened but why it happened. Only in this way can flying be made safer.

So, in the mystery of suffering, the Holy Spirit helps us to dig deeper to find answers that, most important, help us to understand what the Lord is doing in these unusually tough experiences.

What is it, deep inside us, that needs investigation? Let’s read the Bible’s diagnosis of the rottenness of the human heart.

Isaiah 64:6 NLT
[6] “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.”

Jeremiah 17:9 NLT
[9] “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”

Romans 7:18-19 NLT
[18] “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. [19] I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”

Trouble is, we have no idea what is inside of us, what evil we are capable of doing when the occasion arises. Only God knows!

Jeremiah 17:10 NLT
[10] But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Now, we are assured that, in the New Covenant, all our sin… past, present and future… has been forgiven. However, there are beliefs and attitudes buried deep inside us that need to be exposed so that we can be deeply cleansed from even the attitudes and motives that pollute us.

Like the forensic scientist who looks inside an exhumed corpse to find what is in there, so the Lord exposes us to life-and-death situations to bring to the surface what is hidden inside.

Wow! Can this mean that God allowed, even organised the terrible thing that happened to my friend? If He is sovereign in all our circumstances, does this mean that He will go to whatever lengths are necessary to bring to the surface what is inside us?

The real “me” is exposed when the chips are down. How true is the saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes!” Our “faith” may be nothing but wishful thinking until and when we are faced with a crisis.

The real issue is…how serious is God about our deepest thoughts and attitudes? If holiness is His uncompromising demand of us, without which we will never see Him, how far will He take us in suffering to open up our inner being to His light? You see, though He knows what is in us, we don’t.

How could Peter ever know how fearful and cowardly he was without the server test that brought these things to the surface? His bragging meant nothing when he was faced with possible arrest and death.

So, we are encouraged by these words…

Hebrews 12:5-11 NLT
[5] “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. [6] For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” [7] As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? [8] If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. [9] Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? [10] For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, SO THAT WE MIGHT SHARE IN HIS HOLINESS. [11] No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

In the end, it’s all about being His sons and daughters in His forever family, recreated in the image of Jesus, His perfect Son. So, even in extreme trials, we can trust Him and thank Him because He is preparing us for our eternity with Him. Be glad when God exposes hidden evil. Give thanks in all circumstances. God is preparing a bride for His Son, pure and without spot or blemish.